Encouraging women to live life well.

Menu

Tag Archives: kids

“Mommy, is that Whole30?” asked my four year old.
I answered, “No.”
“Why?” he responded, paused, and then offered his own answer, “Sugar?”
“That’s right, buddy.”
He grinned and said, “I knew you’d say that!”.

We’ve just finished our second Whole30 as a family and my little guy has the rules down to a “T”.

Chances are you’ve had a friend post on their Facebook about doing a Whole30 – or maybe you’ve done one of your own. In case you’re not familiar with the concept, Whole30 is a month-long food challenge that’s all about resetting your food habits and gently detoxing a little. For the month, you are charged to not eat grains, sugar, legumes, dairy, or alcohol. Basically, eats lots of fruits, veggies, and meat.

As I’ve already mentioned, this was our second Whole30. Here are a few observations that we’ve made from our experiences (in no particular order).

You’re going to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Just know that you’re going to be chopping a lot of veggies for a few weeks. You’ll need to add some extra minutes to your cooking time each day.

There will be hard days… and some days you’ll soar right on through. Some days you’ll really, really want chocolate. Normal. Other days you’ll be surprised by yourself and find that you’re actually enjoying the changes you’ve made.

You HAVE to plan ahead. A meal plan (for each meal of the day) is non-optional, otherwise you WILL step off plan and you WILL get to start over at Day 1 again. More about that in a minute.

Leftovers and batch cooking are your friends. I suggest cooking a little extra at dinner – or making an extra dish for the week – to have for lunch leftovers or to pull out for a quick meal on unexpectedly busy days.

You’re going to need a lot of food on hand. This might be a good time to consider shopping at a store like Aldi’s to preserve your grocery budget or to invest in a Sam’s or Costco membership to make buying in larger quantities a little more feasible. Either way, fruits and veggies don’t fill you up like pastas and breads. Plan accordingly.

You’ll be proud of your accomplishment. At the end of a successful Whole30 you’ll be able to look back and be genuinely proud of yourself. You’ve said no to indulgences for a full month without wavering. Cheers!

It’s worth it. You’ll likely feel considerably better after a month of clean eating. Some things my husband and I have noticed include less brain fog and feeling more rested upon waking in the morning.

Planning Meals
I mentioned that planning ahead with your meals is critical to a Whole30 that’s on plan. I suggest planning either a week of meals at a time or the whole month if you have the time. We’ve created a Whole30 meal planning template for you to download and print for free! Click here to get it: WHOLE30 MEAL PLAN

I’m also going to share some breakfast and lunch ideas and our full dinner plan for the entire 30 days. (You can find a lot more recipes online. Pinterest can be a really helpful resource, just be aware that not every meal tagged as Whole30 will follow the exact guidelines and you may need to make some tweaks.)

BreakfastsPersonally, I feel like breakfasts are the most challenging part of the Whole30 to provide some variety. Here are some ideas:

Scrambled Eggs with fruit on the side
Fried Eggs with Bacon (you’ll likely need to go to a health food store to find appropriate bacon)Turkey Sausage with sliced avocados, tomatoes, and or fruit on the side.
Sweet Potato Hash with Aidell’s Chicken Apple Sausage (most groceries carry this – note that this is the only variety of Aidell’s sausage that is Whole30 approved).Monkey Salad (a tasty mix of cashews, almond butter, bananas, blueberries, and shredded coconut – helpful if you’re missing breakfast cereal)
Mashed Sweet Potatoes with bananas, nuts, etc. (helpful if you’re missing hot cereal)

Lunches
Lunches are hard for me to plan. Most of the time, I prefer to just make extra dinner the night before and serve that up for a quick lunch. That doesn’t always happen, so here are a few ideas for lunches.

Vegetable Soup (a pound of ground beef, a few bags of frozen veggies, and some broth can net you a big pot of soup that you can eat off of for days.Chicken Nuggets – Without a lot of time you can have a large pan full of these for quick lunches or even a protein snack. Serve with applesauce or cut veggies.
Salads (Keep some shredded chicken on hand to throw on a bed of lettuce along with whatever fruits, veggies, and/or nuts that you like. We like using the Tessemae’s Lemon dressing.)
Baked Potatoes with taco meat or shredded chicken are tasty and filling.
Lunchmeat with veggies, fruit, and pickles. It can be challenging to find an approved lunch meat, so you’ll have to do some leg work to see what the store’s in your area carry, but it’s nice to have on a hand for a super quick lunch to pull out.Dinners
This is our full dinner meal plan from our second Whole30. I’ve linked to as many recipes as I possibly can to make this a quick grab-n-go resource for you.

Day 1: Orange Glazed Salmon, Roasted Potatoes, Asparagus
Day 2: Taco Bowls (Cauliflower Rice, Taco Meat, Chopped Tomatoes, Avocado, and Cilantro)
Day 3: Chicken Nuggets, Oven Fries, Cooked Carrots
Day 4: Date Night! We brought Whole30 approved meals in from Snap Kitchen. More about that in a few…
Day 5: Family Night! Every spring my husband’s work hosts a family night for the employees. We were able to partake of the meal by eating hamburgers without a bun, mustard, sliced tomatoes, and pickles
Day 6: Roast (in my Instant Pot), Green Beans, Cooked Carrots
Day 7: Sliders with Guacamole and W30 approved Bacon (it’s sometimes easier to find approved salami, which is crisp in a skillet – dead ringer for bacon), with Oven Fries, and Strawberries and Bananas
Day 8: Orange Glazed Chicken, Spaghetti Squash, Green Beans with slivered almonds
Day 9: Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes (taco meat, avocados, and sliced tomatoes)
Day 10: Almond Crusted Chicken (no yogurt and only use Whole30 compliant mayo – I just use an egg dip instead while we’re on the Whole30), Mashed Potatoes (use coconut oil instead of butter) and Green Beans
Day 11: Date Night! We brought Whole30 approved meals in from Snap Kitchen. More about that in a few…
Day 12: Creamy Taco Soup
Day 13: Korean Beef Bowls with Cauliflower Rice and Broccoli (This was a big hit in our family!)
Day 14: Mother’s Day Meat Fest! (I requested a special meal for Mother’s Day – a grill full of various meats. We chose BBQ Chicken using this sauce, Pork Chops, Steak, and Aidell’s Chicken Apple Sausage.)
Day 15: Pulled BBQ Chicken (using the same sauce as Day 14), Sweet Potato Fries, and Green Beans.
Day 16: Dinner with Family! We visited my in-law’s this day. They were so kind to fix us a Whole30 meal of Grilled Chicken and Veggies.
Day 17: Date Night! We brought Whole30 approved meals in from Snap Kitchen. More about that in a few…
Day 18: Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs (using this sauce recipe, minus the sugar.)
Day 19: Orange Chicken with Cauliflower Rice and Broccoli.
Day 20: Pulled BBQ Chicken (using the same sauce as Day 14) and Green Beans.
Day 21: Creamy Chicken Enchilada Soup
Day 22: Shepherd’s Pie (my own recipe – coming to the blog soon!)
Day 23: Sweet Potato Chili
Day 24: Grilled Burgers, Aidell’s Chicken Apple Sausage, Roasted Potatoes, Tomatoes, and Bubbies brand Pickles
Day 25: Date Night! We brought Whole30 approved meals in from Snap Kitchen. More about that in a few…
Day 26: Oven Roasted Whole Chicken, Green Beans, and Carrots
Day 27: Green Salsa Chicken Tacos (I cooked chicken breast in the crockpot covered in a green salsa, shredded, and served in romaine leaves topped with avocado.)
Day 28: Creamy Ham & Potato Soup
Day 29: Mexican Steak with Avocado Salsa (People! This was amazing! My favorite meal of the Whole30.)
Day 30: Hamburger Soup

FAQsDo your kids participate? YES! Why not instill some good habits and expose them to some new flavors while they’re young? I will say that we allowed them to go off plan about 10% during the month.

Do you make any tweaks? Minimal tweaks. We occasionally allowed peas and allowed more potatoes than is probably typical. The reason for this is because I’m nursing and needed to be sure to get plenty of carbs.

Was your milk supply impacted, as a nursing mom? Yes, but not in the way you’re thinking. I pump twice daily (at the same times of day), so I have a fairly good handle on what my normal output is. To my own surprise my supply actually increased by several ounces daily.

What about eating out? Eating out is extremely challenging. There are precious few places that can accommodate W30 eating. Snap Kitchen however has MANY options that are completely Whole30 compliant! They have locations in several large cities including Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Chicago, Philadelphia, and more! Because we love you, we’re giving you a coupon for $10 off your first order! Simply enter this code when you order online: LWES-CTMfrom www.snapkitchen.com.

What about my grocery budget? Not going to lie… We went over our grocery budget during our W30. We personally are okay with that since it’s a short period of time (just a month) and view it as an investment in our health and well-being. Other cleanses and health programs cost money, too. HOWEVER, as we went on we found a few hacks for making it a little more budget friendly. One of our best tips is to make a big pot of soup once or twice a week. We loved every soup we tried and we have leftovers every single time. Buy things in season and on sale. Go to Aldi. Avoid unusual ingredients most of the time (coconut aminos is tasty, but it’s expensive, y’all!). Stock up on on plan foods at Sam’s or Costco.

Any confessions? Yes. I’m tired of sweet potatoes. And I really like sweet potatoes. In full disclosure, I have a nursing baby with a sensitive stomach – he can’t tolerate eggs yet, so my breakfasts were almost 100% sweet potato hash.

Did you lose any weight? Whole30 is NOT a weight loss program. It’s all about instilling good habits and doing some gentle, whole foods based cleansing. However, because you’re cutting things like sugar and carbs, weight loss isn’t uncommon. I’m a nursing mom – and weight loss while nursing DOES NOT come easy for me. I lost 12 lbs. during our Whole30. Hip, hip, hooray!

What is your first post Whole30 splurge? Sorry to disappoint…. but I’m not splurging just yet. There’s a Whole30 food reintroduction protocol that we’ve chosen to follow.

Have you ever considered Whole30 – or completed Whole30? Let us know what you thought about it!

Today I (Laurel) am delighted to introduce you to my dear friend (and neighbor), Jennifer. We gave birth to our sons just two weeks apart from each other and have spent a lot of time in the past two years sharing the joys, challenges, and victories that come from motherhood. I appreciate Jen’s intentionality with her son Isaac. She loves him well and pours everything into his rearing. Enjoy this post from her on the topic of screen-free parenting!

It had been a rough day at our house. We had a string of them, leaving me feeling like a failure and often yelling at my son. He was barely two and the defiance was out of control. Nothing worked, nothing. That day he was finally asleep, and I lay beside him, tears pooling in my eyes. “I am the adult here,” I thought to myself. “I am the one in charge of setting the tone of our relationship.” We struggled over everything – even controlled choices were a problem. What had changed? I thought back over our previous couple of weeks…the weather had turned, cold but not freezing however, chilly enough to make me want to stay inside. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks: screen time. As Isaac, my son, had gotten older, he showed greater interest in my iPad. I even bought some apps specifically for him and he played them – he played them a lot. Not only that, we had started watching a movie every morning instead of taking a walk, and it was truly a little kids movie, we watched “Despicable Me”. Then as the days inside got longer, we watched it more than once..twice…three times.

Let me explain: My husband and I are in this alone. Our families are spread out over several states and our parents are far away. I needed to get things done around the house, I needed to cook, and I needed some chill time. We have wonderful friends, yes, but they have lives too – with their children, jobs, and home. Enter the all powerful screen. Hello, babysitter.

Later that same evening, I was talking with my husband, who was also not enjoying the new struggle we had on our hands, and I gave him my theory. “It’s the screen time,” I said. “It needs to end.” He agreed. People, we went cold turkey. The next morning, Isaac asked for his movie. “Maybe later,” I responded brightly. “Let’s paint instead!” And that was the beginning. We painted, we played Play doh, we colored with markers, crayons, chalk. We built blocks, we built legos, we built a train track and ran the train. And every time he asked for the movie, I said “Maybe later!” and distracted him with the next activity. (He never thought to ask for the iPad, it was out of sight and therefore, out of mind.) We braved the cold and went on a nature walk.

My house was a wreck that day but it was worth it. However, since I wanted to have a cleaner, more tidy home AND cook fresh meals AND play with Isaac, I knew something would have to change. Thus began my search for quick, easy, mess free toddler activities.

After only two days of zero screen time we had a whole new child. Was he still defiant, yes, he’s two. But it was manageable. I was highly encouraged and I really believe my son was much happier. He still asked for his movie and I still said “Maybe later” and the iPad was still hidden and really, nothing suffered that terribly. I still cooked and tidied. Although, full disclaimer: I had declared that if anything was going get lost in the chaos it would be the “clean and tidy home” and my husband agreed fully. And, yes, some things get lost in the mix. I’m learning to be ok with that. More importantly, to me at least, was that I learned I didn’t need the screen to be a babysitter all the time and all the activities do not have to be high prep, messy fun. Here’s five low prep, mess free, toddler approved (and even older babies would enjoy some of these) activities that call for supplies you likely have on hand or are super cheap and easy to get.1. Coffee tree mug and craft rings. This looks so cool, it’s hard to believe it is so simple. Take the rings off and put them on. That’s it. Isaac got bored with using his hands so he showed me how he uses his TOES to do it.2. Thin spatula, muffin tin, and blocks. Dump out the blocks in a pile, set the muffin tin nearby and use the spatula (make sure it is thin enough to get under the blocks) to lift a block, carry it to the tin and put in one of the cup. Repeat. I thought this was so dumb, that Isaac would not be interested. I didn’t tell Isaac I was setting this one up, I just did it as he was playing with something else. He watched me and I could not believe how his eyes lit up with interest.3. Pipe cleaners and kitchen colander. Poke the pipe cleaners into the holes. Again, I figured he’d get bored. Nope.4. Drinking straw and craft puffs. Spread out some craft puffs (small to medium, so not for littles who still put everything in their mouths) and power the straw with your breath to move the puff. Feeling extra crafty? Make a very easy map or color wheel to have your toddler blow the puffs (put it on green! Now blue!).5. Dot stickers and construction (or any colored) paper. I keep this in my church bag. Get a couple packs of fun colored dot stickers, the kind you’d use for marking prices on garage sale items, and matching colors of paper. By matching, I mean color, not shade. Have your toddler sort stickers by putting the blue sticker on the blue paper, the yellow on the yellow and so forth. (Side note: I ran out of the dot kind, and evidently, so did the store. So, I got rectangles and I cut them to smaller sizes.)

And a bonus mess free activity? Get them outside. Take a walk and go at their pace. Little people are discovering the world and it’s a wonderful way to slow down and see the world from their perspective.

The reality is that we do not live in a screen free world. But if you choose to dramatically limit your children’s screen time, you are not alone. There’s quite a bit being written about the negative effects of screens on developing minds and very little about how good screen time is –including so called “educational apps”. However, there are still times when I don’t hesitate to hand over my iPad in the name of peace (long grocery store line, anyone?) however it’s a genuinely rare occasion these days. It’s been a wonderful change in our home. I highly encourage everyone to set their screens down and unplug for a bit. I very much doubt anyone would end up regretting time spent without a screen.

Going screen free in a screen heavy world can be daunting, but it’s like Robert Frost penned in his poem :
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”

A daughter of the King, Jennifer Gonzales is a librarian turned stay at home mom. She spends her days playing with her young son, drinking chai, and trying complicated recipes from Pinterest. Occasionally, she writes blog posts for her family blog, Heart Prints. Psalm 113

In our last post, we gave a few suggestions for simplifying the Christmas season with young children in the house. Today, I want to follow that up with some ideas that are fun, simple, require very little expense or preparation, and build loads of fun traditions and memories.

1. Do some form of Advent with them. I realize this is the third time (at least!) I’ve mentioned Advent this season, but it is so essential for keeping the season in perspective. We’ve given several suggestions on our Advent post. Maybe you have young toddlers or even babies in your home. I recently heard a fantastic suggestion for Advent-ing even with them! Take a couple minutes each night and sing simple Christmas carols, such as Away in a Manger or Silent Night. This can slip right in to a bed-time routine, but keeps the Christmas Story in front of them.

2. Have a special baking day. If you have little ones that are old enough (personally, I feel like the 3 1/2-4 year old range really opens up options for activities together), set aside a day to tackle one or two special baking activities. If you need something similar, why not create little Christmas baskets for your neighbors with packets of hot cocoa, disposable hot drink cups, wrapped candy canes, etc.? — all things little hands can easily put in a basket.

3. Decorate a small tree with them — just for their room. There are some adorable little Christmas trees out there. My boys had SO much fun picking out a blue tinsel tree this year, choosing a few non-breakable ornaments, and decorating their tree. It’s a fun time to relax a little bit on your perfect Christmas tree decoration standards and just enjoy watching them go to town on their little tree.

4. Set aside an evening to look at Christmas lights. You can definitely go for a drive in nearby neighborhoods to look at lights, but I’d also suggest just strolling through your own neighborhood… This might be a great alternative for youngsters who don’t do well in the car or for those kiddos who are still rear-facing in their car seat.

6. Go caroling to your neighbors. We caroled with my in-laws last Christmas season… just a few neighbors on their street. It’s a fun evening and people really do appreciate you taking a moment to make them feel special.

7. Christmas PJs! One of our favorite little traditions is to choose new pajamas for our kids to give them on Christmas Eve. (You could give their PJs to them earlier in the season, too.) This doesn’t have to be overcomplicated or expensive…. This year our boys are getting matching pajama sets…. that I bought during a “buy one, get one” sale.

8. Collect a stash of Christmas books. We have a small stack of Christmas books that we have out only during December. Some families wrap their Christmas books, unwrapping one each day leading up to Christmas. I love that idea, but this year we’re choosing to keep our books available in a special “Christmas book basket” for simplicity. Again, this doesn’t have to be expensive! All except a couple of our books were purchased at Half Price Books. They have a special holidays shelf in the children’s section, which makes finding great Christmas books easy and inexpensive. Since we intentionally do an Advent program with our boys, most of our Christmas books are purely festive. Some of our favorites are Little Blue Truck’s Christmas, Bear Stays Up for Christmas, Fa La La, and the classic Caldecott medal-winning Polar Express.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Should you order through these links, we will receive a referral commission off your purchase from Amazon. Don’t worry- this does not affect the purchase price of the product. Thank you for helping support Canvas & Table and helping us create fresh content!

*Begin Jingle Bells*
It’s that time of the year, folks! Christmas is just weeks away and your Christmas shopping list is awaiting your magic touch. You pile into the car, swing through the driveway for a tall PSL or peppermint mocha, wait for an hour at the mall for a parking space to free up…. and then it hits you. You have no idea what to buy that special person on your shopping list. Drat.

*Cue Magic Harp Effect*
Not to worry. We’ve put together an expansive guide to help your Christmas shopping come to a satisfying end. (Gift wrap and shipping not included.)

Monthly Box GiftsA really fun trend right now are curated boxes, created to appeal to the special interests of your special person. Many of them offer 1 month or 3 month options (or you can go ahead and gift a full year if you budget accommodates).
•Ipsy. For the gal in your life who loves to experiment with makeup, Ipsy sends a cute little bag, plus 5 trial size makeup and skin care items. ($10/mo)
•LitJoy Crate. What a fun idea for your kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews, or other cool kid on your list. Each monthly box consists of 2 or 3 specially chosen books (that are selected based on the age of said cool kid, starting as young as 2 years old). Also included are special learning toys, snacks, or crafts ideas that go along with the book themes. ($29/mo)
•Harry’s. Help your dude stay sharp and gift him with fresh blades and shaving products. (Starting at $3/mo)
•Happy Mail (from A Beautiful Mess). With $50 worth of stationary, paper pads, wall artprints, and more, it’s completely obvious why this monthly box is called “Happy Mail”! They also offer a similar box that majors in craft supplies. (As low as $15/mo)
•She Reads Truth Autoship. Give the gift of intentional and focused time in God’s Word. Each month your recipient will receive at least one beautiful study guide (some for topical studies and some covering solitary books of the Bible). There’s a version for men as well. ($24/mo)
•Graze. For the person whose love language is food, send them a box full of specialty snacks. Boxes are customizable for likes and dislikes; however this is probably not ideal for people with nut or wheat allergies. ($11.99/mo)
•BarkBox. This is for the dog person on your list. Each box includes a special assortment of treats, toys, and other goodies especially for Fido. (Begins at $20/mo)
•Date Box. A great couples’ gift. Each box includes an assortment of specially curated date night activities (with a new theme each month, such as travel) to help couples plan more meaningful date nights at home. (Ranges from $27-$35/mo)
•FabFitFun Box. This is the “new thing” in boxes, because it is a huge box with tons of stuff (to the tune of $200 dollar’s worth) and it comes quarterly (but we’re putting it in here, anyway). Look out for some coupons as several have been offering them for up to $10 off your first box. (Ranges from $45-$50/quarter)

Gifts of ExperienceThere’s a growing trend that we LOVE and that is giving gifts that don’t amount to simply more “things”. This is ideal for individuals who don’t really need anything, for those who are working towards minimalism, or for young families who might not need more toys, but would love to add to the treasury of family memories. Plus, in a culture of millennials who love to experience, you can hardly go wrong with one of these.
•Movie Tickets. Because everyone enjoys a show now and again!
•Concert Tickets. Consider giving this gift “early” and making it tickets to a special Christmas concert.
•Yearly Passes. Zoo, museum, aquarium, etc. would all be wonderful places to for individuals and families alike to visit several times over the course of a year.
•Travel Cube. Earmark money for travel and gift them this cube so they can begin saving for those trips they’ve been wanting to go on!

Gifts with a PurposeSome people prefer to have donations made in their honor to carefully selected charities or causes. If you aren’t sure where to start, take a look at this shortlist of some organizations we’ve selected:
•Compassion International. With donation options beginning at less than $10, this is a creative way to give to families in need around the world, equipping them with the skills & tools they need to get out of poverty.
•KOFAEL. This non-profit operates in Haiti, giving women micro-loans to help them start a business and prevent children from unnecessarily entering orphanages due to lack of income in the family.
•Show Hope. This organization both provides medical care to orphans in China and helps funds adoption aid & grants across the globe. With a belief in family preservation and reunification before adoption, due to the large amount of children in orphanages whose families simply can’t afford them, Show Hope stewards their contributions towards doing what is best for the child & family.
•King’s Ransom Foundation. An incredibly well-planned effort in some of the most impoverished places in the world to establish villages, improve the quality of life, and empower families to live sustainably within their community. Every penny goes directly to the actual effort, not administrative costs.
•Fair Trade Gifts. While not a direct monetary donation, it’s a nice way to purchase from international artisans and insure that they are being paid fairly, instead of being taken advantage of, for cheap labor. Look up Ten Thousand Villages, Fair Indigo, or Global Goods Partners to get started. You’ll find everything from home goods, coffee, chocolate, jewelry and beyond.

Good Reads For the person in your life who loves a good book, consider these gift options:•Personal Library Kit. The perfect gift for the friend who has an extensive library and hates losing their books to friends who don’t return, this kit is a great way to make your friend laugh and set them up to start enjoying lending out books again with this fun library retention set.
•A Book Lover’s Journal. This journal is the perfect tool for the die-hard book fan, who wants to keep a record of the books they’ve read, journal their reviews, and much, more more.
•Bookworm Journal. Much like the above-mentioned journal, this is perfect for kids and their parents to enjoy together!
•Snack Kits. Have you ever been invited to a reading party? Something you’re sure to find is some snacks to enhance the experience. Give you gift-loving friend the gift of reading snacks- choose from all natural snack kits, cheese and meat samplers, fruit trays, tea sets, and more.
•Magnolia Story. Magnolia Market at the Silos in Waco, Texas have been a smashing success from the dynamic duo behind HGTV’s Fixer Upper. Their story of faith is hilarious, heart-warming, and may make you shed a tear or two.
•Farm Anatomy. A super fun guide to all things agriculture for families to look through.
•The Compound Effect. Have an entrepreneur on your gift list? This book from the man at the helm of SUCCESS magazine is an affordable way to help your friend or family member make the most of the coming year, with tried and true success strategies for compounding the results of your efforts.
•How to Win Friends and Influence People. Give the gift of time-honored personal development training.
•StrengthsFinder 2.0. For the person in your life who loves learning more about themselves, this nationally best-selling program gives them access to discovering their top 5 natural strengths.
•The Best Yes. This book comes from the president of Proverbs 31 Ministries and is the perfect gift for the woman in your life seeking to grow in making wise decisions about what she puts her hands to.
•Daily Devotional. Want to give a gift that last all year long? Consider these choices from Joyce Meyer, TD Jakes, Charles Stanley, A.W. Tozer, Myles Munroe, Beth Moore, and more.
•Sacred Marriage. Perfect for the Christian couples in your life, married and unmarried, the premise of this book is, “what if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?”.
•The Chronicles of Narnia or The Lord of the Rings. Oldies but goodies, these book sets are perfect for the fantasy lover in your life.

Gag GiftsEveryone knows that person who loves to give and receive humorous gifts- and if that’s you (or the person on your list), look no further! We’ve got you covered.•Hangry Kits. That’s right; there is no better way to tell someone that sometimes they can tend to get a bit cranky when they’re hungry than with a fantastic Hangry kit, a box simply filled with plenty of packages for a snack attack. This is ideal for you not-so-health-conscious friend who regularly experiences snacking emergencies.
•Coffee Brewer + Shower Head Combo. It might seem a bit outlandish to spend nearly $7 on a box, but giving your friend or family member a coffee maker-showerhead combo (with your real gift inside this Prank Pack) and seeing all the looks you get is so worth it. Perfect for that person who loves time management or coffee a liiiittle too much.
•An Attachable Arm. iArm, another Prank Pack, gives the phone or tablet lover in your life something that pokes fun at how much they love their technology.
•Bacon Bandages. Know someone who really loves bacon? Get them the bandages to make them feel better all throughout the year.
•Muffin Tops silicone muffin molds. One word: Minions.
•Like and Dislike Stamps. Perfect for your opinionated friends with pent-up energy this election season!
•Unicorn Gold Toilet Spray. This toilet spray is for before-you-squat and great for practical use & giggles. Want to make a DIY version? Try our fabulous recipe here.
•Mermaid Tail Blanket. Oh, it’s a very real trend and some woman in your life would love to have one, too.

Games
•Exploding Kittens. The game that has taken young adults everywhere by storm, this is perfect for the millennial crowd to have some fun staying alive to win it all.
•Pie Face. Another of the year’s most popular games, this game is great for children and adults alike who don’t care about getting their faces dirty.
•Watch Ya’ Mouth. The last of this year’s big hitters, this game is much more sanitary than you might think- it includes 10 mouth retractors (to be washed after each game, of course) and is a sure way to make the entire family roll laughing (be sure to watching the video at this link to fully understand the game).
•Battle of the Sexes. This oldie-but-goodie is great for gatherings, pitting men and women against one another in a game of gender-based common knowledge.
•Pandemic. A fun, yet very challenging cooperative board game.
•Machi Koro. Build your city by collecting cards and rolling dice in this boardless Monopoly-type concept.
•Qwixx. It’s similar to Yahtzee, but with faster game play.
•Ticket to Ride. Highly entertaining and less cut-throat alternative to Risk, your goal is to build your railroad across the country as you follow your mission cards.
•Catan Dice Game. A super light version of the classic strategy game.
•The Game of Life – Electronic Banking. It’s the classic board game – without hundreds of pieces of paper money.

For the Men•Tree Hut Handmade Wooden Watches. This is such a unique and sharp idea, using bands and watch faces made from bamboo.)
•Slow brand Watches. While this is definitely more of a splurge gift, it’s an unusual concept. Slow Watches utilize a 24 hour watch face to aid you in better pacing your day and budgeting your time.
•Watch Case. A true watch lover has more than a couple watches in his collection, and this case is everything you need to take your guy’s watch game to another level.
•Qalo Silicone Wedding Rings. These rings are perfect for the guy who loves to hike, run, or has an intense occupation that could cause damage to his “nice” wedding band. Because they are silicone, they accommodate for fingers swollen from the heat better than traditional rings. These are super affordable, providing him a way to still wear a ring, without risking an expensive replacement.
•Nice Messenger Bag. Perfect for the guy that needs his laptop available on the go, this sleek design is perfect for the student or tech guy looking to look smart and fashionable and upgrade from a backpack.
•Briefcase. The businessman in your life would appreciate this sturdy man bag, which allows plenty of space for paperwork, gadgets, a computer, and more, while providing a look of finesse at a practical price.
•Beard Balm. For that guy who rocks the beard, help him keep it groomed and soft.•Beard Oil. A favorite for all bearded men, help them take care of their hair and skin with some essential oil love. (Use our number, 1602685, in both boxes when you order)
•Nintendo Nes Classic Edition. Provide a little retro fun with this blast from the past!
•XBOX One or Playstation 4. Get the guy in your life the most up-to-date console if he enjoys current games and needs a new system.
•Beats Studio Wireless Over-Ear Headphones. You saw Michael Phelps with them at the Summer 2016 Olympics. Why? Because over-ear headphones are all the rage right now and Beats can’t be beat! If your guy loves headphones, he probably wants these. If he prefers ones better for being active, try these instead.
•Tile Key Finder. Because no one likes lost keys and it connects to your smartphone.

For the Women•Adult Coloring Books. If the woman you’re shopping for is artistic, she is likely to be all about the adult coloring book craze and would be more than happy to get some more to add to her collection.
•Little House on the Prairie Coloring Book. If she loves coloring and literature, the beautiful and quaint pictures from the well-loved Little House on the Prairie series will be just perfect for her!•Watercolor Pencils. Making water colors cool and easy for adults to use, too!
•Creative Journaling Bible. Let her color and draw in this form of artistic worship in a specially-made Bible, just for this purpose.
•Write the Word Journals. Perfect for those who aren’t artistically bent but love writing, this journal is beautiful and simple.
•A Planner. Set the planner in your life up with something they will absolutely adore all year long!
•Artistic prints. Try one of these or something on Etsy to add some color to the life of the person you’re shopping for.
•New makeup. Check out a list of some favorites here.
•Essential Oils Creme Masque. Give the lady in your life something luxurious for her skin with this fantastic creme masque from Young Living. (Use our number, 1602685, in both boxes when you order)
•Qalo Silicone Wedding Rings. These rings are also great for the athlete, nurse, hairdresser, or stay-at-home-mom-who-washes-dishes-all-day on your list- or anyone else who doesn’t want to risk snagging or dinging their nice ring during their workday.
•Bath Bombs. For any woman interested in relaxing!
•Modern Initial Canvas Tote. These totes are well rated, fabulous, and perfect for the woman who loves a bag in your life.
•Bluetooth Shower Speaker. Because singing in the shower is fun! AND, this is the best way to enjoy a bubble bath with those bath bombs.
•Himalayan Salt Lamp. These are all the rage this year, so be sure to get these for the woman who likes to keep it natural and fresh.
•She Believed She Could So She Did Socks. Perfect for the student, athlete, businesswoman, mom, or just about any woman in your life, these inspirational socks will help the lady you’re buying for feel loved, supported, and believed in.•Hipster Beanie. Help your dearest hipster stay warm this winter with these fabulous beanies.
•Travel Toiletry Hanging Case. Great for the adventurous student, traveling businesswoman, or anyone in your life that stays away from home from time to time, this bag with help her stay put together.
•Fingerless Mittens. These cute and stylish mittens are perfect for staying warm and fashionable.
•Essential Oils Diffuser. A new diffuser is a great gift for any lady- and make sure to get her some oils while you’re at it, too!

For the Kids•Noah: A Wordless Picture Book. A truly stunning visual for the Biblical story of Noah, containing only pictures. What a great way for children to follow along, as parents teach this story to them.
•Melissa and Doug Car Carrier. Many kids love this delightfully simple wooden car carrier!
•Count Your Chickens. This is a great introductory board game for youngsters- and we love the fact that it incorporates cooperative game play.
•Theo. This simple, wonderful Biblical storytelling is great for fascinating your children when they get too old for nap time but still need some rest time.
•Soccer Ball. Soccer is only becoming more popular- get a new ball for the little athlete in your life.
•Hatchimals. If you’re in the know about this year’s biggest toy craze, you know these hatching animal toys are almost completely sold out everywhere, leading to a parental craze of stalking all the nearest stores, awaiting new inventory. Due to that, prices are really high at retailers outside of your Target/Toys R Us/Walmart, but stay tuned for when these toys go back to their normal pricing.
•Art Set. The artistic child in your life would love this 131-piece art set, perfect for the budding artist.
•Melissa & Doug Stamp Set. Help them get creative with stamps!
•Melissa & Doug Beading Set. Get one of these for the young girls in your life.
•Pop-up Princess Castle. Great for napping or playing, this adorable castle is perfect for the little princess in your life.
•Pop-Up Play Tent. Let them play with two play areas and a tunnel!•Walkie Talkies. The intrigue of walkie talkies is still alive for many kids today. Help them explore and imagine with this fun short-range radio.
•Magnet Globe Set. Want to make magnets and globes cool again? Take one look at this, perfect for any child’s room!
•Essential Oils Diffuser. For the oily kids in your life, get them their very own diffuser.
•LED Touch Nightlight. Perfect for kids of any age, this touch nightlight is a great way to add ambiance and a feeling of safety to the room of any kid you know.
•Science Kit. Help the adventurous and intellectual alike learn about STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) principles with this fun kit.
•Race Car Track. Help the real little ones have fun racing with this car track.
•Remote Control Car. Help the older ones race and improve their reaction skills with this gift we all wanted as children.
•LEGO Star Wars Kit. Let them build it with this Star Wars speeder kit.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Should you order through these links, we will receive a referral commission off your purchase from Amazon. Don’t worry- this does not affect the purchase price of the product. Thank you for helping support Canvas & Table and helping us create fresh content!

Choosing gifts (and wrapping them) is one of my favorite parts of Christmas. I totally understand and take to heart that Christmas is about FAR more than gifting, but it is a special part and I love taking the time to really think through what that person would like and what would make them feel special.

My favorite gifts of Christmas are stocking stuffers! While I realize this is different in each family, for us stockings has always been a highlight of Christmas morning. It can be hard to come up with ideas for stockings stuffers that are both unique and affordable, so I’ve come up with a list of 101 (ONE HUNDRED AND ONE, folks!) ideas to get you started!

Gift Cards
15. Gas Cards (I don’t know a person on earth who likes paying for gas, do you? Give them a happy Christmas and cover a few gallons for them)
16. Starbucks (Christmas cheer in the form of a warm cup of joe or tea)
17. Half Price Books (You can make even $5 go a long way here!)
18. Fast Food Restaurants
19. Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, or Jo-Ann’s (For the “crafty” person in your life)
20. Lowe’s or Home Depot (For the homeowner or Chip/Joanna Gaines wannabe in your life)
21. Wal-Mart or Target (Groceries might be the first thing that comes to mind when you hear these, but since those stores carry pretty much everything, you’re basically giving them whatever they want.)
22. Amazon (Everyone has SOMETHING that caught their eye and has taken up permanent residence on their wish list.)
23. iTunes (Give them some new jams)
24. Movie Theater (They get to pick the movie and the time, you get to treat them to the tickets)
25. Ulta/Sephora gift card
26. Best Buy gift card
27. Braum’s/Cold Stone/Marble Slab gift card
28. “Combo” restaurant group gift card (such as the the Red Lobster/Olive Garden or On the Border/Maggiano’s gift cards)
29. Five Below gift card (if you’re not familiar with Five Below, they managed to make the dollar store concept cool and relevant)
30. Dominos/Pizza Hut gift card
31. Whole Foods/Sprout’s (a chance to buy something unusual or gourmet they wouldn’t normally purchase)
32. Cheesecake Factory (give them dessert out!)
33. Teavanna (or other chain tea shop)
34. Cinnabon
35. Shutterfly/Snapfish (for that person who takes tons of pictures…. and never has them printed out)
36. Main Event (or maybe a local bowling alley)

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Should you order through these links, we will receive a referral commission off your purchase from Amazon. Don’t worry- this does not affect the purchase price of the product. Thank you for helping support Canvas & Table and helping us create fresh content!

It’s the first week of November – some of you have been listening to Christmas music for months (some more openly than others), while some of you are stubbornly resisting Yuletide joy until Thanksgiving 2016 is in the books. Regardless, it’s time to start planning for Advent!

Advent is a traditional celebration of Christmas. Traditionally, a candle is lit each Sunday between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, while special Scripture passages are read which focus on the beautiful meaning of Christmas.

In more recent years, Advent has evolved into a daily study or family time that focuses in very tightly on the Christmas season with the intention of preparing hearts and minds for the wealth of meaning that Christmas offers, making Christmas a season, rather than just a day.

My young family has found deep joy in celebrating this special season. We’d love to share some advent resources that we’ve found helpful, along with some additional suggestions for a meaningful Advent season.

Journey to the Manger. Every year Focus on the Family creates a free Advent resource for families. In 2014 this was their program. It was incredible! Consisting of a large printable poster and 24 smaller characters to add to the poster as Advent progressed, Journey to the Manger walks families through each key player of the Christmas Story with Scripture passages and review questions that even toddlers can participate in. While it’s not free this year (they have a new freebie to share with us all!), Focus on the Family has made this study available inexpensively for families to enjoy.

All the Colors of Christmas. This year, Focus on the Family is offering a new, free advent resource. It offers preselected Scripture passages, fun family activities, and some beautiful printable coloring sheets for children — or the whole family — to enjoy.

Unwrapping the Greatest Gift. This incredibly beautiful book compiled by Ann Voskamp is essentially an exquisite children’s Bible, highlighting the most iconic stories of the Bible and pointing towards the coming of Jesus in the manger. This was our approach for Advent last Christmas. Very simple, it required little to no preparation or supplies, but yet was meaningful.

The Jesus Storybook Bible. A similar idea, the Jesus Storybook Bible has just enough stories in this collection to read one per day in December leading up to Christmas. A favorite of our children year round, this book focuses heavily on the promise of a Rescuer and Redeemer, keeping hearts and mind constantly focused on the full meaning behind Christmas.

She Reads Truth Family Bundle. This year, we’ve selected the Family Advent Bundle from She Reads Truth. In this bundle are special, deeper study guides for mom and dad, with some really fun story cards for the kids. We’re looking forward to seeing how this plays out with our family this year, but I love the idea of my husband and I separately studying the same passages in our own devotional time and then bringing a simplified version to our kids at dinner time or before bed. The children’s cards feature lively, colorful graphics with key Scripture passages and questions (made for several levels, which you can choose depending on the ages of your kids).

Good News of Great Joy. Maybe your children are older, no longer live at home, or you’re simply looking for a solid individual devotional for Advent. Good News of Great Joy takes a slow walk through the Christmas Story and then spends time focusing on all of the important “whys” behind Christmas. This one is available to purchase as a hard copy, but Desiring God has made the digital copy available for free download.

Prophecies of Jesus’ Coming and Fulfillment. Another idea is to, as a family, read an Old Testament prophecy of Jesus’ birth and the text marking the fulfillment. There are many resources available for this approach (I’m willing to bet that there’s an iPhone app out there, too!) You can find one approach to this advent program here.

As a bonus, I’m excited to recommend four Christmas albums for you to enjoy as a family! What a great way to set a festive mood and keep the truth and richness of Christmas in front of you!

Joy – An Irish Christmas. A couple of years ago, my husband and I saw this incredible couple – Keith and Kristyn Getty – perform their Irish Christmas program. Keith and Kristyn refer to themselves as “modern hymnologists”, writers of new church music that is drenched in theology, Gospel, and soundness. And since they’re both from the lovely country of Ireland, their music has a distinct flair throughout. We love this album for the joy it brings and the truth is keeps in front of us.

The Sounding Joy. Though this album is intended for children, it’s a favorite of all of us in our home. Simple, folksy, and easy-on-the-ears music with favorite Christmas carols and less common Christmas spirituals.

Prepare Him Room. If you’re looking for an album that is deep and worshipful, this is a great one to add to your collection. As a half-and-half mix of traditional Christmas hymns and original songs from Sovereign Grace, this one drives the depth of the season to the heart.

Seeds of Christmas. Our boys have enjoyed the energy of the Seeds Family Worship albums and this year they’ve added a new one to their selection. Seeds of Christmas is an EP with six Christmas songs – with lyrics taken directly from the Bible and styled for the enjoyment of children.

Leave a comment below and tell us your favorite way to prepare your heart for Christmas!

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Should you order through these links, we will receive a referral commission off your purchase from Amazon. Don’t worry- this does not affect the purchase price of the product. Thank you for helping support this blog so that we are able to continue creating fresh content!

The great outdoors. Sleeping under the stars.Hiking.Cooking on an open fire. S’mores. Crisp nighttime air. Two toddlers.

Whoa, Nelly. Hold it right there. Toddlers? Camping? Are you crazy?

Yep. And we’ve been crazy three times. That is, we’ve taken three camping trips with our little brood. Our first trip as a family was just a weekend away at a nearby state park with my husband’s family. Our boys were 6 months old and 2 1/2 years old. The second trip was a weekend away – just the four of us – for my husband’s birthday. Our most recent camping trip was a 9 DAY event – it was an organized retreat of sorts. For perspective, our definition of camping is tent camping at a water/electric site.

We’ve learned a lot from each trip and today I want to share those things with you, so that you can also enjoy successful camping trips with your youngsters.

–Pack extra flexibility. Expect overtired kiddos, early naps, a restless night here and there, and lots of memories. Pull out the flexibility to make them good memories. Your camping trip will be different from your pre-kid trips, but they’ll be fantastic if you come with the right expectations.
–Careful campsite selection. If you have potty trained littles, pick a spot within just a short walk of a bathhouse. I prefer clearer spots away from water and brushy areas…. just for peace of mind. We also try to avoid busier areas if possible. Toddlers are going to wander a little – even under close supervision – and if we can avoid them wandering to busy streets, we can all rest a little bit.
-Which brings me to another point… Take a sharpie and write your camp site location on your toddler’s hand. That way – God forbid – should they wander off, they can easily be returned to their family.
–Dirty kids. This is something we’ve got to improve our game in. Expect your kiddos to get grimy – and enjoy letting them have the opportunity to do so. Just bring along a plan for a way to wash them. Both of my boys are gun-shy around showers – which is about all you’ll find in a bathhouse. My plan of attack next time is to bring a simple plastic bin to prepare some warm (an electric kettle really simplifies the camping life!) soapy water and a big stack of clean wash cloths and towels so we can make sponge baths happen nightly and have clean kids without the unpleasant shower experience. Also, bring SEVERAL changes of clothes. I can’t count how many times our boys have gotten muddy or wet to the point that a change of clothes was mandatory.
-Bring a collapsible high chair or a booster that will securely strap to a picnic table or folding chair. This most recent camping trip, we had some major issues with our youngest (21 months) playing the old popcorn game (up and down, up and down…just sit down and eat already!) during just about every meal. It dawned upon me – too late- that he’s used to being confined in a highchair during meal time and he’s just not ready for the freedom of sitting in a chair without straps during meals. Also, think through a plan for a table of some sort (If your child is in a booster, they’ll have a tray of some kind). My 3 1/2 year old’s lap isn’t big enough to balance a large paper plate. We found it helpful to drag an ice chest over next to his camp chair to make a little table for him.
–Pack snacks. Lots of snacks. Camping usually involves a LOT more physical activity than most of us are used to at home… which means ravenous appetites. Granola bars, yogurt cups, applesauce pouches, and crackers all make quick and easy snacks. I’d also advise packing some juice boxes. My boys are great water drinkers, thankfully, but I still find it helpful to have something extra (and tempting for them!) to encourage them to stay hydrated. If you’re concerned about the extra sugar, the Honest juice boxes can be a good option, as they’re not nearly as sugary.
-We enjoy picking out a special camping chairs and sleeping bags (for those old enough to not sleep in a pack-n-play) for our kiddos. It makes it fun for them and makes them more likely to sit/sleep in their designated spot. We found some cute patterned items at Walmart for great prices and they’ve held up over several trips.
–Pick your season wisely. We’d take a chilly fall camping trip over a warm spring/summer trip any day. It’s darker sooner, which means greater bedtime success and it’s cooler, which means our boys sleep better/later because their warm, snuggly blankets feel so good.
–Camping with little ones isn’t the time to go hardcore and really rough it. Don’t hesitate to pack a small space heater to warm your tent up before bedtime, if you expect cold nights.
–Take a sound machine. It can drown out so much noise – cars driving by, new arrivals setting up camp, or the loud card game going down at the campsite next to you.
–Prepare for the elements and unexpected, like rain or bug bites. Rain boots, Crocs, or flip flops can really help if there are puddles to splash in or mud to run through. A lightweight hoodie is going to be a lot more practical and effective to keep heads dry, rather than trying to keep an umbrella over them. As far as unexpected ouchies and itchies, I make sure to pack my most used, diverse essential oils. Quick, easy, and they don’t take up much room.
-Just like any out-of-town trip, make sure you set your kiddo up for success by packing their favorite (and most critical) routine items… this is not the time to leave the paci, bottle of warm milk, or special lovey behind.
–One thing that we’ve found challenging up until our last camping trip was naptimes! It can be so challenging to young children to halt play and be stuck in a sleeping bag or play pen in broad daylight. I’m not sure I’d sleep very well, either. This last time, I finally found something that works (at least for our kiddos). We buckled our child (only our youngest naps at the moment) into the stroller, laid the seat all the way pack, gave him his nap time usuals (paci, milk, and stuffed puppy), and went on a shaded walk. Each time he was out cold within minutes. You can continue the walk or go back to camp and park in the shade at your campsite for the remainder of the nap. Obviously, this is what worked for one baby…. and the solution for your child might be different, but think about your plan before your ever leave home and set your toddler up for success.
-If you plan to do some light hiking, come prepared with either a good stroller or baby carrier.
-For two of our camping trips, we had a baby who was not yet walking. Having a pack-n-play for the baby to play in helped keep him happy while hanging out at the camp site. Also, bringing along a cushy picnic blanket to put on the grass helps give them a clean and protected area to crawl around on.
-For us big people, sitting around and drinking a cup of coffee might be enough entertainment, but little ones need variety. I pack a variety of outdoor toys when we camp… a ball to kick, trucks to roll around, and something to dig in the dirt with will all be helpful.
–My in-laws are awesome campers. Seriously. They’ve spoiled me forever. One of my favorite things they do is set up a large tent to be the kitchen. It’s a great place to store ice chests, prepare a cup of coffee (again – an electric kettle will be your friend!), contain kiddos while you tackle food prep, etc.

READER TIPS
– Danielle C. tells me that when they go camping they have a small tent (2 person size) that is the designated game tent. They clean up the kids, get them ready for bed, and then let them go to town with games, flashlights, coloring books, etc.
-Rachel reminded me of a great tip… Pack a TON of baby wipes. They’ll make clean hands and freshening up before PJs so much easier.
-Holly and Rachel both suggested keeping a toddler potty at your campsite. That sounds like a really great and simple solution if you’d rather not venture out for 2 am potty trips with your kids.
-Ashley suggests the following, “As for bathroom issues, we camped close to the trees and the boys just went and did their business there during the night. I have a woman’s funnel that I bought off Amazon called a P-Easy that [my daughter] and I use. I know! Weird! BUT it works Amazingly well! I would just use an empty water jug with a lid to use the bathroom in and keep a Thieves cleaner bottle close to clean everything. I don’t like getting up during the night so it saved me from having to make a lot of noise leaving the tent .”
-Danielle P. agrees that bringing an abundance of outdoor toys will be helpful. She says her kids especially enjoy having every kind of sports ball available for play time. As a bonus tip, she suggested making sure each child has their own flashlight. (We’ve found some good little ones for $1 each at Walmart.)
-Camarell suggests simplifying your trip by doing as much food preparation ahead of time as possible. Some tips she offers are premixing pancake batter or cracking eggs into a container before you ever leave for your trip.

READER QUESTIONS
–But will my children sleep? Yes. They will! Just remember to set them up for success – don’t leave behind their normal bedtime routine, pack a sound machine, bring favorite blankies and lovies to make their sleeping bed or pack-n-play feel as much like home as possible. We’ve had a cumulative two weeks or so of nights spent camping with our sons and have had maybe two rough nights. Your children are going to play SO hard that they will be completely wiped out come bed time.
–What about campfire safety? We teach our boys to not go near the fire pit, even if there is no lit fire. While on our most recent camping trip, however, I saw a family that have built a barrier – a short fence of sorts – out of scrap wood (it wasn’t this sophisticated, but here’s an idea to get you started). Just be sure to do enough to prevent little ones from toppling over and getting hurt. But ultimately, if you’re nervous about this aspect of camping, skip the fire. There is not set-in-stone law that requires a campfire and there’s nothing that says that you won’t have a fun trip without the campfire.

Leave a comment below and tell us YOUR best tips for camping with toddlers!

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Should you order through these links, we will receive a small commission off your purchase from Amazon. Don’t worry- this does not affect the purchase price of the product. Thank you for helping support this blog so that we are able to continue bringing you fresh content!

A lot of us spend a lot of time focused on getting things done and making sure to check everything off our to-do lists. This is why I love the idea of making leap day a day to do something different! So often there are expectations of us, and the idea of taking leap year’s leap day to stop and do something different just because of those close-to-24-hours we skipped over the past four years is quirky and fun.

You know the story: Every four years, we have 366 days instead of 365 days to make up for the few extra hours a year we don’t recognize. Leap day creates an extra day in February, and in some cultures this is a day for unusual traditions. If you’ve watched the movie Leap Year (so cute, so sweet!), you may already know a bit about one such tradition. Just think- even if you live to be 100, that’s only 25 leap days you will experience, and you’ve probably already lived at least five of those. So, start a new tradition (I love those) this leap year by doing something fun and carefree with your “extra day” of the year.

Have a movie night for your family, or make it a chick flick girls’ night with your friends. Some suggestions- you could watchLeap Year for an ironically funny (and cute) choice, Captain America to get ready for the next movie coming out in just a few months, or Big Hero 6 to have a proper kids’ movie night (which adults will still totally love. We watched this movie in the theater for my husband’s birthday last year. And loved it. True story). Pair with some fun snacks to complete! Pinterest seems to suggest that frog-themed snacks are all the rage for Leap Day, but having an unusual meal you don’t usually take the time to cook or don’t usually have around the house is another fun way to celebrate.

Take the day to complete projects you just never seem to have time for. Some people enjoy celebrating Leap Day by recognizing it as time to “catch up” on that time you’ve “lost” over the past four years. Now, I’m much more prone to recognize something that is going to be a bit of silly fun, but there are definitely some fun projects you could work on for the day, like making that scrapbook, doing that DIY project, or painting that room.

Declare Leap Day a chill day (or chill evening). Don’t plan on anything but not having plans. Relax, read that book you just haven’t had time to read or catch up on some TV shows. Just be sure to rest.

Make a time capsule. If you’re anything like me, scrapbooking and other memory-preserving activities sound awesome, but I struggle to make time to do so. I love the idea of taking the day to look over the past four years by making a time capsule with friends or loved ones, or even as an individual activity, to be opened next Leap Day. It’s doable, it’s fun, it’s unique…what more could you want? (Side note: I made time capsules on the last day of school every year growing up, and I loved it! It is actually a really fun thing to do and look back on.)

Recreate your favorite moments from the last four years with a do-over day. Did you love going to that chocolate factory three years ago? Did you have a blast trying that foreign restaurant for the first time? Loved those photo booth moments from your friend’s wedding? Find some local places where you can do similar things- a gourmet chocolate store, a local foreign restaurant, a photo booth at the mall- and have a fun do-over day, celebrating the fun of the last four years.

Create a Leap Day date itinerary for your significant other, your kids, or your friends. One thing I love about Leap Day is the chance to do something I wouldn’t normally get to do, yet Leap Day is rare enough, it doesn’t feel like overkill or something hard to sustain. Celebrating in style with a “just because it’s Leap Day” date with loved ones puts no boundaries on what you can do, but creates a fun experience you’ll remember for years to come.

Celebrate the last four years at once. If you’re really into fun parties and themes, host a little party of your own, celebrating each of the last four years sequentially. Say it’s a two-hour party? Spend 30 minutes celebrating each year, complete with music, food, and/or memories that remind you of each one.

Go to a trampoline park. Take leaping to a whole new level by bouncing and leaping around- just because it’s Leap Day. This is an especially fun and zany idea for kids- and you can take it the next level by imagining and doing things those ten lords a-leaping would have actually done.

Have you ever celebrated Leap Day or do you have some fun Leap Day ideas to share? Comment below!

When my husband and I were first married, we were given several pieces of furniture and a generous abundance of home goods. Our cute 800 square foot sky blue 1950s bungalow house was perfect. Every room and corner was cozy and decorated precisely the way we liked it. Fast forward four years and several moves and we’ve found ourselves with more than 1200 additional square feet and some pieces that are flat worn out and we’re starting with a clean slate.

We’ve finalized a few rooms and have some more progress yet to be made. Along the way we’ve come up with some simple steps to make the process easier and to help it seem less daunting.

One room at a time. Use this method to prioritize your plan of attack. Do you want to focus on your favorite room first? Your highest traffic areas? Rooms that need the least work? Most work?

Plan like crazy. Walk through some furniture stores. Visit a model home. Scour Pinterest. Take time to figure out what you like and why you like it. If you have an oddly shaped room or a unique storage challenge take time to find out what other people have done with a similar issue. I highly recommend making a Pinterest board for your project and pinning your most favorite ideas for quick reference (and to make sure your idea mesh well).

Budget. Determine what you’re willing to spend to make your ideas come to life. Be realistic. (But also allow yourself to invest in pieces here and there that will last if your budget allows!)

Baby steps. Unless you just came into a windfall, you probably aren’t going be able to complete every single item on your list. Content yourself with baby steps. You may only tackle an item per month… but you’re still gaining on your final goal. Putting curtains up here, paint a wall there, hang a new picture up on that wall…. before you know it the entire landscape has completely changed.

Be mindful of seasons. No, I don’t mean fall or spring. I mean to be aware of the season of life you find yourself in. If you have young children, it may not be the season to invest in an expensive living room set (maybe you can find a budget-friendly option to take the brunt of heavy use and splurge on another set down the road). Maybe you’re in a rental and know that you’ll be moving into a different space in a short period of time. This might be the time to come up with creative solutions with items you already have or spending minimally on solutions for odd corners or small spaces.

Leave a comment below and tell us your favorite tips for making decorating a manageable task!

I’m completely infatuated with Christmas trees. We have no less that six scattered through our house. For a year now I’ve been planning and scheming about Tree #6. It’s finally up and I’m so excited to share this idea with you.

So many of us take quick snapshots on our cameras and phones. Many of us have Instagram and take it upon ourselves to share our daily life with our friends (or the world) with pictures…. but they stay trapped in the tangled web of internet.

Today, I’m sharing a fun, simple, customizable, super easy, and budget-friendly solution. Sold? If you only tackle one DIY project this holiday season, let this be the one.

Here’s all you have to do:

Go to Snapfish (or another print source) and link your Instagram account. Select the photos from the year that mark your most memorable moments and have them mailed to you.

When your prints arrive attach a clip of some kind and a piece of string to the picture. (I used bulldog clips that I bought for cheap in bulk on Amazon, but you can keep it even more simple by sliding on a paper clip.)

Hang the pictures on your Christmas tree.

See? Wasn’t that easy?

Our tree is scattered with so many precious and fun memories: a new baby, meeting great-grandparents, camping trips, a new puppy, birthdays, date nights, even well-checks at the pediatrician. Every time we walk past the tree we are warmed with special memories from the year- even my toddlers love taking time to look at the pictures.